Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
We are shaping technology governance and sectoral transformation with 30+ large-scale initiatives across four workstreams, led by 300+ public and private organizations.
We also act as an action platform for numerous other Forum initiatives with a critical technology dimension, from advanced manufacturing to autonomous mobility, to precision medicine.
Our initiatives drive fast-paced, iterative institutional design to close system gaps that result from the diverging pace of technological and institutional change. All our initiatives pursue different outcomes but share a set of common principles including:
Agility & speed: testing and iterating solutions through a series of rapid sprints with value delivered along the way.
Collaboration: building solutions on existing or complementary efforts from across sectors and domains.
Multi-stakeholder: considering diverse perspectives to identify unmet needs and avert unintended consequences
Adaptability: balancing standardization and contextualization to facilitate local adaptation and iteration
The Centre is co-designing and piloting policy frameworks and governance protocols across six areas of focus.
Centre Workstreams
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Accelerating the societal benefits of artificial intelligence and machine learning while ensuring equity, privacy, transparency, accountability and social impact.
explore this platform...Flagship Initiatives: AI and Machine Learning
AI Procurement 2.0
Creating and implementing a model for AI Procurement in a Box, gathering new evidences to support the market-shaping role of public procurement in fostering the development of human-centered AI
Empowering AI Leadership
A toolkit for corporate officers to identify the benefits of artificial intelligence for their companies and how to operationalize it in a responsible way
Generation AI: Developing Artificial Intelligence Standards for Children
Artificial intelligence can potentially benefit children, but special attention must be paid to protecting the most vulnerable demographic
Blockchain and Digital Assets
Ensuring equity, interoperability, transparency and trust in the governance of distributed ledger technology – and accelerating the necessary changes for this technology to reach its full potential.
explore this platform...Flagship Initiatives: Blockchain and Digital Assets
Digital Currency Governance Consortium
This consortium focuses on the discussion and development of relevant and timely governance and benefits from multi-sector input
Crypto Impact and Sustainability Accelerator (CISA)
CISA aims to Accelerate progress around ESG targets for the crypto ecosystem and shape a cohesive narrative that highlights how the crypto sector can lead in contributions to ESG
Redesigning Trust: Blockchain for Supply Chains
As organizations look forward to building more resilient supply chains for the future, it will be more important than ever to ensure that technology deployments are inclusive, interoperable, and have integrity
Data Policy
Co-designing, piloting and scaling forward-looking, interoperable, and trustworthy data policies to propel innovation and accelerate responsible use of data.
explore this platform...Flagship Initiatives: Data Policy
Data for Common Purpose Initiative (DCPI)
Creating a new flexible data governance models that allows for the combining of data from personal, commercial, and government sources, while still respecting rights, will positively empower a variety of stakeholders while removing unintended policy barriers
Operationalizing a Responsible Data Ecosystem
Working with industry leaders, consumer advocates, lawyers, and technologists, this multistakeholder initiative aims to develop and deploy practical and impactful policy tools that increase responsible behaviour in the data ecosystem
Pathways to Digital Justice
Creating a new policy framework that effectively addresses issues of justice arising in a range of digital contexts, which will guide policy efforts towards combating data-driven harms
Communities and Initiatives: Quantum Computing
Global Future Council on Quantum Computing
The Global Future Council on Quantum Computing acts as an advisory committee to the Quantum Computing Network whose mission is to accelerate the realization of opportunities associated with quantum computing, and to drive collaboration on addressing the concurrent set of emerging risks and security challenges.
Quantum Computing Governance Initiative
The Quantum Computing Governance initiative is bringing together a global multistakeholder community of experts from across public sector, private sector, academia and civil society to formulate principles and create a broader framework for responsible and purpose-driven design and adoption of quantum computing technologies to drive positive outcomes for society.
Quantum Security Initiative
The Quantum Security initiative, part of the World Economic Forum – Quantum Computing Network, is a community of senior executives and experts from business, academia, governments and non-profit organizations at the forefront of promoting secure adoption of quantum technologies.
Urban Transformation
Transforming the spaces in which we live, work and play to enable a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future for all.
explore this platform...Flagship Initiatives: Urban Transformation
G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance
Leading a global effort to advance the responsible and ethical use of smart city technologies
Future of the Connected World
Shaping the development and deployment of technology in the public interest by accelerating and amplifying world-leading policies, partnerships and practices
SME Futures Network
A global network of pilots in Brazil, Colombia, Turkey and South Africa that aims to decrease the digital divide by enabling SMEs to access the benefits of IoT and emerging technologies
